Museum of Steel

The Super Museum Review

The Man of Steel is set to release tomorrow, and again Superman is abuzz in Hollywood for the first time since Superman Returns’ release back in 2006. Now, maybe the past seven years have sent you into Super-withdrawal — experiencing pain even kryptonite couldn’t match — or maybe waiting until that midnight show on Friday is weakening you worse than living days on end under a red sun. Well, instead of curling into the fetal position and sobbing on the floor because you’ve exhausted your Action Comics collection for the last time, give this review a try.

Because I am in as much anticipation as all of you, I thought it would soothe my anxiety to review the Midwest’s premier attraction for Superman and comic book fans alike: Metropolis Illinois and their Super Museum.

Last fall, I had the privilege of visiting Southern Illinois’ alleged home of the Man of Steel, Metropolis. Upon entering the city, it seemed to be your average rural-Midwest village. However, within minutes I had passed Thor’s Gym (seriously) and was down the street from a 20-foot high statue of the Last Son of Krypton himself. After getting a few photo opportunities underneath said statue, it was time to venture across the street and into the Super Museum.

Entering the building immediately brought me back to being a 5-year-old, running around in a red cape and pretending to save the day. I entered a gift shop filled with the most Superman paraphernalia I have ever seen in one place (besides maybe Comic Con) and that includes a plethora of different shops. While I wanted to scour every corner of this super-powered merchandise oasis, it was more pressing to pay the light admission of $5 and enter the Museum.

[one_half]A rope next to the cash register was lifted, allowing my entrance into a hallway leading to the massive collection. Framed animation stills decorated the walls as I entered the first room of the museum. I was baffled right away to see so many props from the 1950’s George Reeves Adventures of Superman television series. From the original costume to villain costumes and various props, I couldn’t have guessed what the value of this collection was: and this was just the first room. [/one_half] [one_half last=last] [/one_half]

As I walked through the hallways of the building, I was again and again pleasantly surprised by how extensively the owner had collected pieces of Superman history. Collections from every big screen and small screen iteration of Superman were littered throughout the rooms; yet there was also plenty of room for the toys, models, and comics that so many Superman Fans remember from their childhoods. I felt a mixture of surprise, excitement, and nostalgia around every corner I turned. Many parts of the collection were from shows I had forgotten about, like Lois and Clark, yet upon witnessing their respective displays I was greeted by this unannounced-but-welcome nostalgia.

[one_half] [/one_half] [one_half last=last] Some of the most interesting pieces of the collection, to me, were the harnesses the museum owner obtained that were once used to make Superman fly. The collection included flying harnesses from most Superman incarnations, and while I found this interesting, I was deeply disappointed to find out that Christopher Reeve and George Reeves weren’t really flying.[/one_half]

Overall, I think the Super Museum in Metropolis, Illinois is well worth the trip if you are ever in the area. $5 is such a deal to stand next to Jimmy Olsen’s suit from the Superman movies, or stand face to face with Action Comics #1 (which, I am still curious if their copy of Action Comics #1 is real or not, so if it is real then we can add another million or so to the value of their collection).

The only expressible gripe inhabiting me is the lack of maintenance in the museum displays. Occasionally while walking through the exhibit, one may come across broken displays and a lot of dust. However, despite minor maintenance issues, this museum presents a once in a lifetime chance to witness such a sweeping collection of the legacy of Kal-El himself. I give the Super Museum in Metropolis, Illinois 9 “Up up and away!”s out of 10!

 Check out more pictures from the museum below: